Strict legislation needed

Another incident of misbehaviour with a doctor has come to fore which was widely condemned. A video showing SDM Zainapora misbehaving with doctor went viral across social media following which doctors observed ‘black day’ with doctors association threatening of pen down strike if no action is taken against the erring official. The association said it will intensify the agitation programme if authorities fail to act against the SDM and the onus of which they said will lie exclusively on government. The trend of misbehaving with doctors and manhandling them has increased in recent past and despite appeals by the medical fraternity, the government has failed to ensure safe work environment for doctors, nurses and other hospital staff. Recently, a female doctor was manhandled by miscreants in Kangan while she was discharging her duties; an ambulance driver of PHC Laar, Ganderbal, was also attacked. Even on another occasion, a police officer misbehaved with a lady doctor when she was going to join duty during curfew. This worsening trend is a matter of serious concern and if left unattended may create an unsafe working environment for doctors which will ultimately affect the performance of health workers and compromise the quality of healthcare. The government shouldn’t make delay in bringing ordinance wherein manhandling of medical staff and damaging hospital infrastructure is seen as cognisable offence. The authorities’ apathetic approach is a cause of agony for the whole medical staff. Any kind of humiliation, harassment, misbehaviour or assault on those associated with this noble profession is simply unacceptable.